Plans, policies and positions

Fact of the week

87: The percentage of the world’s population using drinking water from improved sources was 87 in 2008

Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Target: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

In 2008, 87 per cent of the world’s population used drinking water from improved sources: 57 percent used piped connections in their dwelling, plot or yard; and the remaining 30 percent used “other improved drinking water sources.”

This translates into 5.9 billion people worldwide using drinking water from an improved source – an increase of 1.8 billion since 1990 – including about 3.8 billion people with a piped connection that provides running water in or near to their homes.